Race Report #3 June 4^th ‘00

June 2-4,Race Ontario 2000 series

Shanonville Motorsport Park , Hosted by CRDA

Due to work responsibilities, I was not able to leave home as early as I had expected and subsequently arrived at Shanonville by mid-day Friday. My mechanics would also not be present until Saturday morning. I opted not to participate in the practice, as there would not have been enough time to prepare the car on time.

This weekend, we would be racing on the "long track". This is the longest configuration at Shanonville, measuring just less than four kilometers in length. In speaking with another driver, I learned that the last time that the other drivers in the series had driven this particular configuration was approximately six years ago. This would give me a definite advantage. I had raced on this circuit in ’98 and although I would probably be a little rusty, I should require less time than the others to adapt.

Saturday morning practice didn’t go very well. On the second lap, I tried to go too fast too early. The track surface was cold, my tires were still too cold. The result was that I spun off into the grass while negotiating the Carousel. There was no apparent damage but the car was full of grass and mud. I was too far into the grass to attempt to drive out. I remained there until the end of the session. The tow truck pulled the car and me back to the paddock. I had not spent enough time on the track to determine if my gear choice or if my wing angle choices were the right ones. I would have to wait until the qualifying session.

Qualifying session went very well. Some of my gear choices were correct but others were not. There was not enough difference between third and fourth gear. I did not realize it until after the weekend but first and second gears were also not right. They were both too long and this was affecting my acceleration on the straights. The car was handling fairly well, though, there was just a little bit of understeer in some turns. Nonetheless, I expected that my lap times would be good. I would have to wait for the results to see just how I measured up against the other drivers. To my delight, I qualified third, ahead of all three of my former teammates.

I would have no further track time on Saturday and I would use the remainder of the day to make adjustments to the car. We increased the front wing angle to reduce the understeer condition, reduced the rear wing angle to increase top speed and changed the fourth gear ratio to a taller one. The engine had been running very well and required no adjustments.

The weather on Sunday was not as good as Saturdays’ had been. It was lightly overcast and a little cooler. Hopefully this would not adversely affect the cars’ setup.

The start of the first race was absolutely hair raising. We all rushed through turn one, which is a high speed, fourth gear turn, and then two sharp right handers (2^nd gear) followed by the Carousel, which is a double apex, off camber turn, wheel to wheel. No one would give an inch, but miraculously, there was no contact, at least at the front there wasn’t. This continued for half of the first lap. Then we formed a single line. At some point down the backstretch, I lost two positions. The other cars were accelerating much quicker than mine could. However, my car was more nimble than the others in the turns and I was able to catch up to them again. At the next straight, they would pull away. This went on lap after lap. The pace had remained as fast and furious as the start had been. We five had broken off into a lead pack. I didn’t know how far ahead of the others we were but I could not see any cars in my mirrors. The pace would prove to be to the detriment of the two leaders. They were pushing too hard and were burning up their tires. One spun off, the other began to slide and lose control. He was easy to pass. I was now back in third. I managed to close the gap between the two new leaders and myself but my acceleration problem would not allow me to attempt a pass. When the checkered flag flew, there was only half a second separating myself from the winner. The fourth place car crossed the line almost fourteen seconds after me.

I would start the second race from third again. The first half of the race unfolded much like the first one did. I lost a few positions almost immediately. We broke away into a lead pack and no one was giving an inch. We followed each other nose to tail for many laps. Then, one of the leaders made a mistake and spun off. I was back in fourth position.

The four cars ahead of me had previously begun to pull away from me but now it appeared that they had slowed a little. I soon found out why. The leader, (#31) had burned up his tires and was now holding up the pack. The second place car (#7) managed to get around him quickly to take first and rapidly increased his lead as myself and car #44 were now being held back. We completed three or four laps like this. Trying to find an opening to get by. Finally, #44 managed to pull up along side him. They proceeded through several turns, wheel to wheel. Then, #44 edged forward and got past.

I knew that the end of the race was close and that I would need to make a move soon if I were to finish third. Car #31 was sliding noticeably, in front of me, and was having difficulty holding the line. My car was still handling very well and had no difficulty negotiating the turns. At the bottom of the carousel, it appeared that he would slide wide of the apex. I decided it would be now or never. I moved to the inside, but he regained his line and our wheels intertwined. We collided. I saw parts flying. My steering wheel spun free from my hands. We came to a stop on the racetrack. I was still facing forward but his car was somewhat sideways, in front of me. His car had pivoted around the front of mine and I was sure that there would be some damage to the front of my car. The wheels were still straight but I couldn’t see the front wing. Surprisingly, my engine was still running. I decided I would limp back to the pits. His car was also running and he decided to do the same. I followed him around. To my surprise, he didn’t turn into pit lane. He proceeded to the front stretch. I did the same. As the starting tower came into view, I could see that the checkered flag was flying. Someone had gone by us as we were stopped on the track and therefore he finished fourth and I fifth.

Eventhough we had been motionless on the track for some time, the next car to cross the finish line, did so, forty-two seconds after me.

The end result was that I had earned a third and a fifth this weekend. A much better result than at the last event but I would be going home with a damaged car. That’s racing.